Power-transmission system for vehicles



Aug. 17, 1926. 1,596,174 J. H. GRABAU 1 POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed April 24, 1923 INVEN TOR.

JOHN H. GRAB/4U f) ATTORNEY chassis eq Patented Aug. .17, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHNIH. GRABAU, OF LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA.

POWER-TRANSMISSION "SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

Application. filed April 24,

'My invention relatesto a system of power transmission for motor vehicles, particularly to vehicles having a front and rear drive.

1 An object of the invention is to drive a vehicle by power taken fromthe engine at both ends of the cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to take power from a double-acting internal combustion engine at the two ends of the 'cylin der for separately driving the front and rear wheels of a vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power transmission system having the foregoing features" and in which the corresponding units at the front and rear ends ofthe vehicle may be simultaneously operated or controlled.

The invention possesses other and features .of' advantage, some of which with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the'preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification It is to be .understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawing and description, as I. may adopt. variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. 1

The drawing is a plan view of a vehicle 'pped with the system of my invention 4 As illustrated in the drawing the vehicle 3 is shown the form of atractor, is driven byaninternal combustion engine 4 of the double 3 acting type. The engme as here'shown is mounted centrally between the ends of .the tractor and comprises a cylmder fi'havingexplosion chambers 7 and 8 at its opposite ends. 'Mountedwithin the cylinder for reciprocation between the explosion chambers is a piston 9provided at its 0 pcsite ends with piston-rods 12 and 13 w respectively extend through the end walls""14 and 15 of 'the cylinder and areassociated with crossheads' I'Zand 18. The piston-rods are co ,jefeted'to separate crankshafts 21 and 221) "means of'connecting-rods 23 and 24.

. The power from the crank-shafts may be -conveyed .to the front and rear wheels by any csuitable'means, and I desire to have it expressly understood that Ido not limit .my- S6lf "t0 any particular type .of such means. As here shown a. fly-wheel25 is mounted on each"crankshaft and is associated with a chitch 26. Aselective sliding transmission 1923. Serial No. 634,396.

27 in which the drive and driven shafts 28 and 29 are arranged at right angles, is preferably interposed between the clutches and propellorshafts 31 and 32, the latter being geared to the driving axles 33 and 34 at 01 posite ends of the vehicle through differentials 35 and 36 respectively.

Steering of the vehicle may be effected through the front or rear wheels or both, by providing wheels. with the usual steering knuckles. When as here shown, both front and rear wheels are used for steering, the

steering cross-rods 39 associated with the Wheels of the respective axles, are connected together by the usual linkage 41.

Power is preferably delivered to the wheels from the driving axles b means of gearin the necessary fiexibili y being obtaine through universal joints.

: The clutches are arranged to be operated simultaneously and for this purpose, the'levers 42 thereof are connected together by a rod 43. Means are also provided for causln the transmission gears at the op osite ends 0 the vehicle to be corresponding? taneously shifted. In the, present embodiment the forks for sliding the corresponding transmission gears are adapted to be connected together by shifter rods 44 and 45 each of which comprises a air of links 47. connected to the opposite, en s of a lever 48. The rods 44 and 45 are adapted to be moved 'by a gear shifting lever 49 in the ordinary manner.

I cla m 1. In a motor "vehicle, the combination of I an englne having a cylinder and a piston mountedtfor reciprocation therein, shafts at both ends of .said cylinder, connections between said crank shafts and the adjacent ends of said piston driving wheelsat opposite ends of the vehicle, inde ndent driving connections between sai crank '-'fsl iafts and theerespective driving wheels and including \selfitivetransmissions, and controlling means*- for simultaneously and corsaid transmissions. the combination of piston respondingly operating '2. In a motor vehicle, an'engine having a cylinder and a -mounted for reciprocation therein, shafts at both ends ofsaid cylinder, connections betweensaid crank shafts and the adjacent ends of said piston, driving wheels at opposite ends of the vehicle, independent driving connections between said" crank shafts and the respective driving 'Twheels and y and simul crank 1 including clutches, and controlling means for simultaneously and correspondingly operating said clutches.

3. In a motor vehicle; the combination of an engine having a cylinder and a piston mounted for reciprocation therein, crank shafts at both ends of said cylinder, connections between said crank shafts and the adjacent ends of said piston, driving wheels 19 at opposite ends of the vehicle, independent driving connections between said crank shafts and the respective driving wheels and including clutches, and selective transmis sions and controlling means for simultaneously and correspondingly operatingsaid clutches and said transmissions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 

